Breech mechanism of semi-automatic and quick-firing guns.



A. T.- DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM.

BRBEGH MECHANISM 0F 'SEMLAUTOMATIG'AND QUICK PIRING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 19143.

1,088,212. Patented Feb.24,1914

" TED l sTATns raTnnT onirica.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKI-IAIVI, OF WESTIVIINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS `LIMITED, 0F WESTMINSTER,

ENGLAND.

IBREECI-I MECHANISIVI OF SEMI-AUTOMATIC AND QUICK-FEELING GUNS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24C, 1914.

Original application filed April 1, 1912, Serial No. 687,576. Divided and this application led April 11,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Sir ARTHUR Tnnvon DAwsoN,knight, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKn HAM, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vickers House, Broad way, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech Mechanism of Semi-Automatic and Quick-Firing Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the breech actuating mechanism of semi-automatic guns of the kind that can be converted into quick firing guns; in this type of gun we have already proposed to provide two catch devices one of which is adapted to lock the breech actuating hand lever to the gun when the latter is to be worked se1ni-auto1natically and the other to lock the hand lever to the block actuating spindle when the gun is to be worked as a quick firer.

The chief object of the present invention is to so construct and arrange the said catch devices that the one for causing the hand lever to be locked to the actuating spindle cannot be moved into its locking position without eifecting the disengagement of the other catch device. In this manner it is impossible when the gun is working semi-automatically for the parts to be damaged as a result of the hand lever being vunintentionally locked to the gun and to the actuating spindle at the same time. The connection between the catch devices is also such that the catch device for locking the hand lever to the gun is capable of being disengaged without disturbing the catch device appertaining to the actuating spindle, so that if the breech block should fail to return to the closed position when the gun is working semi-automatically, the actuating hand lever can be moved into a position such that the last mentioned catch device engages with the actuating spindle, whereupon the latter can be moved by hand.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eii'ect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively an end and a side elevation, Figs. 3 and 4f are sectional end and side elevations, and Fig. 5 is Serial No. 760,350.

a plan, showing a constructional form of our improvements.

A is a portion of the breech end of the gun, B the breech actuating hand lever, Bx its handle and B the block actuating spindle.

C represents the catch device for locking the hand lever to the actuating spindle (herein referred to as the quick firing catch and D represents the catch device for locking the hand lever to the gun,

(herein referredV to as the semi-automatic catch In the type of breech actuating mechanism to which our invention is shown applied by way of example, the actuating spindle B is provided with a toothed segment B2 that engages with a spring controlled rack contained in a case or cavity B3 forming part of the breech actuating hand lever B, in a similar manner to that set forth in the specification of our application for British Patent No. 19847 of 1910. The quick firing catch C is, in the example shown, in the form of a lever pivoted at c to the hand lever B, and its forward end is adapted to engage in a recess b2 of the toothed segment B2. In the construction shown in the drawings, the outer end of the said quick firing said semi-automatic catch D. This catch is in the example shown formed with a slot d to receive the rear end of the quick firing catch and the forked member e of the grip lever E, and is also recessed to receive a floating plug or loose piston E and a spring e controlling the same. The said plug is furnished with a roller 62X which engages with the lower surface of the cam projection e2 on the grip lever. The upper surface of the said cam projection bears against a roller es carried by the catch D.

Vhen it is desired t0 actuate the breech mechanism by hand for the initial opening of the breech prior to semi-automatic working, the handle BX of the actuating hand lever B is grasped and the grip lever E displaced. The cam projection e2 on the grip lever by its engagement With the roller e3* causes the semi-automatic catch D to be lifted out of engagement with its pocket AX in the gun against the resistance of the spring e in the said catch, the floating plug E being prevented from lifting under the influence of the spring by the engagement of the roller 62X With the under surface of the cam projection e2. At the saine time the forked member e of the grip lever displaces the quick firing catch C into engagement with the recess b2 in the pinion B2 on the actuating spindle B. The breech can then be opened, and when t-he pressure on the grip lever is released, the aforesaid spring e causes the catches C, D to resume their normal position, the usual beveled face ZO formed on the nose of the semi-automatic catch D enabling the said nose to engage with the pocket AX in t-he gun when the hand lever is returned to the normal position for closing the breech. When the gun is working as a quick irer, the grip lever E is retained in its displaced position by theV pressure thereon of the gunners hand during the opening and closing of the breech.

When the gun is Working semi-automatically the semi-automatic catch D is in engagement with its pocket AX, and, owing to the aforesaid connection between the said catch and the quick tiring catch C, the latter is positively retained out of engagement with the recess b2 of the pinion B2. It the actuating spring of the semi-automatic gear should fail to ret-urn the breech block to the closed position, owing for example to a tight cartridge case, the semi-automatic catch D is lifted by means of a milled head Do thereon out of engagement With the pocket AX in the gun (this movement taking place' Without moving the quick firing catch C owing to the elongated slot d in the semiautomatic catch D) and the hand lever can then be moved into a position Which is such that when the grip lever E is displaced, the quick ring catch C can engage with the recess b2 in the pinion Bv2 whereupon the breech can be operated by hand.

lVhat We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In the breech actuating mechanism of semi-automatic and quick iring guns, the combination With the breech actuating hand lever and the block actuating spindle, of a pivoted lever on the hand lever, means for retaining said pivoted lever out of engagement with the spindle, a plunger carried by the hand lever for engaging With the gun and means whereby the movement of the lever into engagement with the spindle displaces the plunger out of engagement With the gun.

2. In the breech actuating mechanism of semi-automatic and quick liring guns, the combination with the breech actuating hand lever, and the block actuating spindle, of a pivoted lever on the hand lever, a grip lever on said hand lever for coperating with said pivoted lever, a spring controlled plunger in the handle of said hand lever, a roller on said plunger and a projection on said grip lever for engaging With said roller.

In testimony whereof We aliX our signatures in presence of tivo Witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DANSON.

GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM. lVitnesses:

HENRY KING,

JNO. R. CASWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

